Firearm case with rubber bumper



Aug. 25, 1959 H. H. KOLPIN FIREARM CASE WITH RUBBER BUMPER Filed Dec.24, 1957 Fig. 3

Howard H. Ko/pin 4 INVENTOR. 4706;.

BY f, 25%

nited States Patent FIREARM CASE WITH RUBBER BUMPER Howard H. Kolpin,Berlin, Wis.

Application December 24, 1957, Serial No. 704,960

' 3 Claims. (Cl. 150-52) The present invention generally relates to anovel structure in a firearm case and is especially adapted for use inconjunction with elongated firearms such as shotguns or rifles, theprimary object of the invention being to provide a resilient bumper inthe barrel end of the gun case for protection of the barrel of thefirearm when the firearm and case is stood on the barrel end and also toprovide a neat closed end for the case.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a firearm caseincorporating in its construction a closed end having an annular groovetherein telescopically receiving the end of the flexible case, theflexible case being secured to a rubber bumper by concealed fasteningmeans thereby enhancing the appearance as well as the durability of thedevice.

A father important feature of the present invention is to provide therubber bumper on the barrel end of a gun case which is provided with asupport loop projecting therefrom and also includes structural featuresfor preventing skidding of the rubber bumper when it is supported on asurface.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a gun casewhich is extremely simple in construction, neat in appearance, effectivefor its particular purposes and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gun case constructed in accordancewith the present invention;

'Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the barrel endof the gun case;

Figure 3 is an outer end view of the rubber bumper element; and

Figure 4 is an inner end view of the resilient bumper element.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generallydesignates the firearm or gun case having a resilient bumper thereongenerally designated by the numeral '12, the resilient bumper .12 beinglocated at the barrel end of the gun case 10.

The gun case 10 may be of any suitable construction and may beconstructed of leather, canvas, or other suitable material and since thepresent invention resides in the barrel end of the gun case 10, theremainder thereof may be of any construction depending upon the desiresof the manufacturer, but the gun case is usually provided with acarrying handle 14, a closure flap 16 at the open or butt end thereof,the closure flap 16 being provided with strap means 18 for retaining thesame in closed position. Also, the edges of the gun case 10 which aresewn together to provide a continuous member are provided with bindingstrips 20. Generally, the gun case 10 is closed at the barrel end andthe resilient rubber bumper 12 of the present invention forms a closurefor the gun case 10, the numeral 22 indicating the material from whichthe gun case is constructed and the numeral 24 indicating paddingdisposed interiorly of the material 22 for cushioning the barrel andprotecting the same from damage.

The resilient bumper 12 is preferably constructed of relatively firm orsemi-hard rubber and includes a generally oval-shaped block of rubberdesignated by the numeral 26 which is provided-With an annular groove 28extending inwardly from the inner end thereof, the groove 28telescopically receiving the tubular end of the gun case 10. The outerwall of the annular groove 28 which is designated by the numeral 30projects inwardly past the inner surface 32 of the block of rubber 26 asclearly shown in Figure 2.

Fastening means such as U-shaped staples 34 are driven inwardly throughthe wall of the gun case and into the block 26, the outer wall 30 beingflexed outwardly to facilitate insertion of the staples and thendownwardly when the staples 34 are inserted so that the outer portionsof the staples 34 will be concealed and the wall 30 will also preventany accidental retraction of the staples 34 thereby securely andpermanently securing the resilient body 26 to the gun case 10.

The outer end surface of the block 26 is provided with a series oftransverse grooves 36 which do not extend all the way to the peripheryof the block 26 but which lend anti-slipping characteristics to therubber block 26 whereby the same will not slip if engaged on a smoothsurface.

The block 26 is preferably oval-shaped as already noted and at one endof the major axis thereof, the groove 28 is provided with a recess 38disposed interiorly of the inner wall of the groove 28. The recess 38extends completely through the block 26 and forms an aperture designatedby the numeral 40 in Figure 3, which communicates with one of thetransverse grooves '36. A flexible strap 42 has the ends thereofextending through the aperture 40 and received within the recess 38whereby a staple or similar fastener 44 may secure the strap 42 to theblock 26 thereby providing a loop by which the gun case 10 may besupported from any convenient supporting structure.

With the present invention, the barrel end of a gun disposed in the guncase 10 may be rested against a supporting surface without damagethereto and without any undue shock being transferred to the gun. Thebumper 12 also provides a neat closure for the end of the gun case 10and may be colored to contrast with the gun case 10 or may be anydesired color whereby the closed end of the gun case will be neat andprovided with a rubber cushion that will not slip when rested against asurface and also provided with a supporting loop.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a gun case, the combination of a hollow case body having asubstantially tubular end portion, a combined closure and bumper memberfor said body, said member comprising a block of resilient materialhaving a face formed with a continuous annular groove receiving saidtubular end portion of said body therein, said groove being disposedadjacent the marginal edge of said block whereby to provide a relativelythin and flexible outside wall for said groove, and fastening elementsextending through said tubular end portion inwardly into said block,said outside wall being bendable outwardly to facilitate insertion ofsaid fastening elements but normally lying against said tubularendrportion whereby to conceal the fastening elements in the latter.

2. The device as'defined in claim 1 wherein said outside wall projectsfrom said block beyond the face of the block having said groove formedtherein.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said block is formed with arecess opening at-the outer face of the block and cornmunicating withsaid annular groove in the interior of the block, a'flexibleloop-forming strap disposed eXteriorly of said'block andha'ving its endportions extending inwardly through said recess, and fastening means insaid groove for securing the end portions of said strap to said block.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHERREFERENCES A. F. Stoeger, Inc., 509 Fifth Avenue, New York city,

copyright 1931, p. 91.

